Friday, February 24, 2017

As
a native of Petersburg, Virginia, Patrick D. McCoy served as a music
educator and as musician at several churches including Covenant
Presbyterian Church, The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer and First
Christian Church.

WASHINGTON - Feb. 23, 2017 --
Patrick D. McCoy was recently named Organist/Choirmaster at Saint
John's Episcopal Church (Zion Parish) in Beltsville, Maryland where he
will be at the helm of the church's music program. He will serve in
ministry with Father Joseph M. Constant, the church's current rector.
Sunday, February 26, 2017 will be McCoy's first Sunday leading the
choir and accompanying at the organ.

He
dedicates this latest accomplishment to the glory of God, in loving
memory of his mother, Velma Ann McCoy Pulley, who departed this life on
January 11, 2017 and knew of this next move prior to her passing.

Patrick D. McCoy distinguishes
himself as an organist, choral conductor, singer and music journalist
residing in the Washington, D. C. area. A native of Petersburg, VA, he
is the son of the late Velma Ann McCoy Pulley and Alex R. Pulley. A
1995 graduate of Petersburg High School, he earned the Bachelor of Music
in vocal performance from Virginia State University (2000) where he
studied voice with the late Martin A. Strother, sang in the University
Concert Choir under the direction Johnnella L. Edmonds and Opera
Workshop with Lisa Edwards-Burrs. Other important childhood mentors that
inspired him to pursue a career in music include James F. Peak, Jr.,
his high school teacher Donna R. Lundy, Mattie L. Wilkerson and Tom E.
Lovorn, among others.

Shortly
after graduation from VSU, he served as Director of Music and Organist
at Covenant Presbyterian Church from 2000-2006, early service musician
at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer from 1998-2002 and
First Christian Church from 2003-2005. In Washington, Patrick served as
Minister of Music at Takoma Park Baptist Church from 2006-2012 and most
recently as organist/choirmaster from 2012-2016 at Trinity Episcopal
Church. His interest in music was sparked by his late mother Velma Ann
McCoy Pulley (July 25, 1956-January 11, 2017), who sang in the church
choir and with whom he practiced and coached many of the songs she
sang.

In
2005, he earned the Master of Music in Church music from Shenandoah
University where he studied with Metropolitan Opera tenor Michael O.
Forest and organ/sacred music with Dr. Steven Cooksey. Juxtaposing a
busy schedule between writing and public appearances, he has covered the
arts for several outlets, including Washington Life Magazine, Early
Music America, The Afro American Newspaper, CBS Washington, Examiner.com
and ArtSong Update. As a noted performing arts journalist he has
interviewed outstanding artists, including soprano Renee Fleming,
violinist Joshua Bell, actress Audra McDonald, mezzo-soprano Denyce
Graves, conductors J. Reilly Lewis, Stanley J. Thurston, Norman
Scribner, Julian Wachner, Emil de Cou, Andre J. Thomas, Rene Clausen and
Michael Tilson Thomas and Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter,
among others. Notable appearances include presenting at the 2012
African American Artsong Alliance Conference at the University of
California at Irvine, Moderator: Mendelssohn Elijah Panel at The Kennedy
Center, Moderator: Symposium Series at the 2014 Colour of Music
Festival and Moderator: Blacks in Classical Music Panel hosted by the
Coalition of African Americans in the Performing Arts and the National
Medal Arts Ceremony at The White House. As an educator, Patrick taught
music in the Petersburg Public School System from 2000-2003 and Prince
George's County from 2006-2008. A vocal soloist, he was presented in a
full recital by the Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc, at Christ and Grace Episcopal Church in Petersburg.

In
2015 he appeared on Washington's NBC 4 as a judge for "Be A Voice" a
local installment for the hit talent TV show, The Voice. At
Washington National Cathedral (2016) Patrick served as conductor of the
Diocesan Wide Choir in a special Festival Eucharist commemorating the
life of Absalom Jones.

He
was named among the Forty Under 40 of Prince George's County, MD for
his contributions to the arts and humanities in 2013 and the 2014 Board
Member of the Year for the Coalition for African Americans in the
Performing Arts. He is a member of the Music Critics Association of
North America, Shenandoah University Alumni Board of Directors, National
Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc.

McCoy
will be formally installed as Organist/Choirmaster on Sunday, March 19,
2017 at the 10:00 a.m. service. The church is located at 11040
Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20704.